WTA Brisbane International 2026 prize money explained: How much can Sabalenka, Anisimova and Rybakina earn

The Brisbane International is one of the big tournaments commencing the 2026 campaign, with a stacked lineup looking to capitalise on the prize money and ranking points on offer in this 500 event taking place from January 5-11.

The WTA event will see the world number one Aryna Sabalenka lead a stacked field in the east of Australia as they target the top prize. The Belarusian will be coming off her defeat in the Battle of the Sexes with her looking to defend her title in emphatic fashion. She defeated Polina Kudermetova in last year's final in three sets, with the qualifier close to a huge upset.

There is the potential for a more competitive final in terms of ranking players. Seven of the top 10 will be taking part in the tournament, making it a highly anticipated competition. Aside from Sabalenka, the favourites to take the title are the world number four and five Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina. They will see this as a golden opportunity to stack some points on their rankings, with them defending very little in these first stages of the year. Rybakina comes here as a former champion, defeating Sabalenka in the 2024 Brisbane final while losing just three games in a rampant win.

A brace of Americans Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys also look to take the title Down Under. Keys is under a heap of pressure to defend the ranking points she earned from last year, having won titles in the Australian Open and Adelaide International. A deep run in Brisbane could put her in a good position to defend her Australian Open title she brilliantly won last year. Mirra Andreeva and Ekaterina Alexandrova are the world number nine and ten, completing the top 10 players who feature.

Similar to last year, a possible outside could take the event by storm and make a run to the final. The likes of Clara Tauson and Linda Noskova are two bright young talents who will look to continue their progress. Other players with hopes to challenge at the forefront of the title include the likes of Leylah Fernandez, Paula Badosa, Liudmila Samsonova, Karolina Muchova and Diana Shnaider. 

The winner of the tournament will go home with a satisfying $214,530 and 500 ranking points, desperately needed for some to keep their position in the rankings with the points coming off from a year ago. The runner-up will be handed $134,600 and 325 points.

While it may be frustrating to get so close to featuring in the final, the semi-finalists will be earning $77,115 and 195 points with quarter-finalists clinching a prize pool of $37,640 and 108 points added to their ranking. 

The early rounds see the money dwindle right down from the high sums offered for a deep run. An exit in the second round will get you $13,735 and 32 points while failure to make it out of the first round gets you $11,920 and just one ranking point.